I CITY RESERVES

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVI, Issue 67, 16 September 1943, Page 7

I CITY RESERVES

"HANDS OFF POLICY

HAT.AITAI CAMP ECHOES

It was time that the council took a firm stand and said "Hands off the city reserves and the Town Belt," said Councillor R. L. Macalister, chairman of the reserves committee, at the meeting of the City Council last night, when he again referred to the establishment of a defence works camp on the slopes at the southern end of Hataitai Park. It had been suggested that the larger buildings would have a life Of "30 to 40 years." It was an extraordinary suggestion that buildings should remain on a city reserve for 30 to 40 years. In one way or another there had been most serious inroads upon the reserves. Eleven playing fields had been lost at Rongotai, the land at .Kilbirnie on which the nurses' home stood had gone, supposedly for five but probably for 25 years, and Anderson, Central, and Kaiwarra Parks were covered with buildings. . '" "Just where are we getting to? he asked: "Wellington is very badly off for parks and reserves now, and the position will be very much worse after the war. I think the policy of this council should be 'Hands off the reserves and off the Town Belt.' "

CONDITIONS LAID DOWN,

Councillor Macalister tabled a report of a sub-committee of the reserves committee recommending that the area should be permitted to be occupied only for the war period and six months thereafter; that as soon as the area was vacated it should be restored to a plan prepared by the council, and that as soon as the Hataitai camp was ready for occupation all other camps on city reserves for civilian occupation would be removed and the reserves restored to a satisfactory condition. . The council had a first duty to safeguard the reserves it had obtained at such very great cost, said Councillor M. Fraser. Wellington had spent probably more than the other main centres together on building reserves, and now large areas had been lost. When Hataitai Park was granted for the use of the military authorities there was never any idea of permanent occupation, said Councillor Gaudin. There should be a definite insistence that the area on which the defence camp had been constructed should be fully restored to its proper use. .

MEN HERE FOR ESSENTIAL WORK.

. "I deplore the tuppenny ha'penny attitude of some members of the council," said Councillor R. H. Nimmo, who said that the camp was established to provide essential accommodation for men required in Wellington for essential defence construction, earthquare repairs, and housing work. He was sure that if the council so desired the Public Works Department would restore the area to its former condition. . Mrs. Gilmer very strongly supported the protest made by Councillor Macalister and contrasted the action at Hataitai Park, where trees had been destroyed, with the attitude of the American military authorities -who, when the value placed upon trees was stated to them, issued an "order of the day" that no tree should be destroyed in any area occupied by their forces, and that undertaking had been faithfully observed. Councillor W. H. Stevens characterised the action of the Public Works Department as high-handed. He moved that the report of the sub-committee should be referred back to the committee. The only sensible thing was to support the committee's report, for it was no use crying over spilt • milk, said Councillor B. Todd. Councillor R. McKeen pointed out that that part of Hataitai Park used by the military authorities could not be used as a playing aredt The district engineer had expressed regret for what had happened. The council should accept the situation, and whatever recommendations it wished to lay down should be for the future. "We should drop it," he concluded, "especially; as the principal buildings are up on concrete foundations. Someone in authority should see.that the same position should not occur again." Councillor Wright thought that the council should always fight such positions, even if it lost. There was always the possibility that the buildings would never be removed. Councillor Nimmo, said Councillor Macalister, had been placed in a very invidious position. He had not chosen the site, but he had been placed in the position of having to state the position and actions of officers, for which actions he was in no way responsible. Why did not the Director of Parks and Reserves know what was going on, and why did he not report to his committee? asked Mrs. Gilmer.

The whole of the park was under the control of the military authorities, replied Mr. MacKenzie, and naturally he thought that the new camp was also military work. The commifEee's report was adopted. Councilor Macalister stated that a detailed report upon the occupancy of reserves would be brought before the next meeting of the council.